After being slapped with a racial discrimination lawsuit, Tesla is now countersuing the California Civil Rights Department – a state agency charged with enforcing local civil rights laws – which brought the suit over allegations at the automaker’s flagship assembly plant.

Tesla is alleging that the California agency failed to provide Tesla with the legally required prior notification which would have allowed the carmaker to settle the suit.

Tesla is seeking a judicial order forcing the agency to adopt new regulations in a formal rule-making process, which would prevent the agency from following what Tesla refers to as unlawful procedures.

The California Civil Rights Department refused to comment on the matter.

Tesla has made similar claims to a state judge last month, however the company’s request was denied.

However the new complaint will open the door to a discovery process which may allow Tesla’s lawyers to gather further information about the California agency’s practices and their investigation of the carmaker. That could aid the company down the line in getting the case dismissed.

The California Civil Rights Department alleged in its complaint that Tesla ran a racially segregated workplace, and that the environment exposed black employees to racial slurs, graffiti, and that minorities were discriminated against when jobs were assigned, when discipline was meted out, and in pay levels.

Tesla claims the lawsuit is politically motivated, and denies all wrongdoing.

Separately, Tesla is also facing a raft of other sex and discrimination lawsuits, most of which involve the Freemont plant.